Several Fresher Community Mental Health Volunteer NGO Job Opportunities – Mental Health Uganda (MHU)

  Health Jobs in Uganda, NGO - Non-Government Organisations Jobs in Uganda

Job Title:   Community Mental Health Volunteers (Several Fresher O’ Level NGO Jobs)   

Organisation: Mental Health Uganda (MHU)

Duty Station:  Jinja, Uganda

 

About US:

Mental Health Uganda (MHU) is an indigenous, non-governmental, membership-based disabled people’s organisation; an organisation of people with a lived experience of mental health problems. MHU was established in 1997 and formally registered as a national NGO in 2001. MHU is based in all regions of the country and works for equal access to services and opportunities for people with mental health issues. MHU is the biggest organisation of people living with mental illness in Africa with over 25,000 members.

 

About Project:

In view of the above, MHU, in partnership with Voice Global, started implementing the project “Normalizing Mental Health Conversations” in Jinja district, Eastern Uganda.

 

The project is built around the concept of ‘Social Contact’, which is a conversation between a person with a lived experience of mental health problems (we call this person a ‘Champion’) and one without this lived experience. Champions use Social Contact to normalize mental health conversations. What is key is that during these conversations, the Champion has to disclose on their lived experience (only to the level they are comfortable sharing). They are called ‘Champions’ because they are Champions of their story and have overcome stigma to be able to disclose their lived experience. By doing so, they normalize having a mental health problem thereby inspiring those silently battling mental health problems or at risk, to ‘Speak Up’ and those without problems to ‘Be More Kind’. For this project, 20 Champions will be selected from the users of psychiatric services at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, the MHU District Association in Jinja, other organizations involved in mental health work and their affiliates. They will work alongside 2 VHTs and 2 Para-socials who will facilitate linkages with communities through Government of Uganda structures (and will, for purposes of this project, also be called Champions). To enable them perform their roles, the Champions will be trained to comprehend facts and myths on mental health, human rights around mental health, peer support, Psychological First Aid (PFA), detection/identification of cases, referral, among other things.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities: Working under the supervision of the Project Officer based in the project location, the Champions will:

  • Conduct ‘Social Contact’ with members of the general public during small events organized by the project and within their communities
  • Ensure that there is a good working relationship between the project team and participating stakeholders
  • Liaise with the Project Officer to refer members of the public to places and institutions that offer professional mental health care (these will be mapped under the project)
  • Participate in awareness work on mental health in the communities as may be required
  • Collect data, basic information from their activities and report accordingly
  • Participate in events and evaluations organized by the project
  • Other activities related to the project as may be requested from time to time.

 

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

  • Have a lived experience of a mental health problem but having achieved reasonable stability with their condition, and ready to disclose about their story
  • Adult Ugandans between 18 – 35 years
  • Trainable (able to read and write in English and or any other commonly used language in the project location); preferably having completed o-level education (Senior Four)
  • Residing within Jinja area
  • Have a friendly personality and able to build networks
  • Willing to work only with volunteer incentives (spirit of voluntarism).

 

How to Apply:

All interested individuals should send an application letter indicating how they fit into this role/position above and a brief testimony (whole application, including the brief testimony should not exceed 2 pages) via email to mhu@mentalhealthuganda.org – subject line is “Application to become a Champion”. Do not send academic documents – heavy files containing academic documents or submitted as images and or late applications will not be considered.

 

The Letter must also include the contacts of 1 suitable referee who can comment on the candidate’s ability. Women are highly encouraged to apply.

 

Applications can also be hand delivered to the Mental Health Unit at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.

 

Note:

  • MHU promotes zero tolerance for discrimination/harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, religious beliefs, etc.
  • All staff and volunteers shall adhere to strict guidelines in order to facilitate “silent” inclusion.
  • Staff and volunteers also adhere to safeguarding provisions – a set of procedures and practices designed to ensure that no harm comes to project beneficiaries as a result of contact with MHU’s programs, operations or individuals.
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

 

Deadline: 30th June 2023 by 4:00pm

 

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